Cannavaro unconcerned with angry Juve fans

"Everyone knows I would return to Juve with joy in my heart because I had two beautiful seasons in Turin," said the 35-year-old.

"People expected me to stay (in 2006) but I've already explained a thousand times what happened. I am not worried, I will definitely talk with the fans," Cannavaro told Tuesday's edition of the Turin daily Tuttosport.

He had wanted to end his career at hometown club Napoli but president Aurelio De Laurentiis said the 2006 world player of the year was too old for a centre back.

Juve coach Claudio Ranieri, preparing for Wednesday's Italian Cup semi-final second leg at home to Lazio, denied media reports he was lukewarm about the move.

"We asked ourselves about Cannavaro's age but we couldn't miss the opportunity to sign an international who could re-form Italy's central defensive partnership with (Giorgio) Chiellini and could come for free," he told a news conference.

"For this reason I gave the OK when I was asked."

Juve were ordered to play their next home league game behind closed doors on Monday after fans racially abused Inter Milan striker Mario Balotelli in Saturday's 1-1 Serie A draw.